AMERICAN PENN PALS COULD HELP SAVE WOOD

Holmer Green Upper School pupil, Lauren, 13, of Watchet Lane, Holmer Green, is writing to a local newspaper in Pennsylvania, to appeal to residents to donate money to the £1 million campaign to buy the wood.

The 432-acre ancient woodland between Penn Street and Penn Bottom Road, was due to be turned into a golf course after it was sold to a private developer in 1990.

Residents strongly objected to the plan and, after a lengthy campaign, landowners GBS Estates put the wood on the market before Christmas.

The Woodland Trust, with the Friends of Penn Wood, launched an appeal to raise the money to buy the land and preserve the wood.

They need £200,000 from local support.

It is hoped further money will be raised through grants, including a Heritage Lottery Grant, funds from landfill tax and a contribution from The Woodland Trust.

Lauren said she thought it would be a good idea to write to people in Pennsylvania, because William Penn who founded the US state, is linked with Penn.

She said: "He might have some descendants there still, who want to help.

"It is important to save the wood because it is home to so many species of plantlife and animals. It has been around for hundreds of years."

Lauren and three friends took part in a sponsored swim for the appeal last month and The Woodland Trust has now received nearly £150,000 of pledges.

Andrea Miles of the Trust said: "It is great that everybody is involved both young and old. There have been some very innovative ideas, people are not just thinking about people in the local area.

"It shows that youngsters think a bit more globally. They think globally and act locally as it were.

"I am sure that they will get a lot of support. We have already got a few Americans who have pledged money. Let's hope this works, it's a great idea, especially with the strong link with William Penn."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.